THE NAVAL HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN FROM THE DECLARATION OF WAR BY FRANCE IN 1793 TO THE ACCESSION OF GEORGE IV IN SIX VOLUMES

Hardcover 6 volume set. Originally published in 1820, this is the new edition, published in 1837. Beautiful 3/4 leather with marbleized boards. Marbleized boards are still nice and bright, with light rubbing. Edges rubbed. Beautiful blue leather spine and tips have rubbed edges. Spines sun darkened to black, leather is a bit crinkly. Beautiful matching marbleized fore edges and endpapers. Foxed frontis and title pages. Text pages are clean, fold outs are in nice condition. Interesting provenance to this set. Gift inscription on first blank endpaper of volume 1 is to Erick Charrington from his father upon his obtaining a first class certificate for gunnery at the Royal Naval College, Portsmith in 1893. His name is penned in each of the 6 volumes on the second blank endpaper. Erick Charrington entered the Navy in 1885. He served as Lieutenant on the HMS Philomel in Zanzibar in 1896, was mentioned in despatches and witnessed the bombardment and capture of the Sultan's Palace on 27 August, by the Squadron of Rear-Admiral H. H. Rawson. In the same ship he took part in punitive expedition commanded by Rear-Admiral Rawson, and landed from the Squadron to punish the King of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition, ending in the capture of Benin City, 18 February 1897, on which occasion he commanded a 7 pounder gun and rocket tube for which he earned a medal with clasp. He served in China as Lieutenant on HMS Alacrity, and was with the storming party at the attack and capture of the Taku Forts, and the relief of and operations around Tientsin, Haiku, and capture of Pelyang Arsenal, June 1900. The insignia were presented at Hong Kong by the Rear-Admiral, Second -in Command on the China station (Medal with two clasps) . Charrington was promoted Commander in June 1905 and retired on 19 August following. Erick Charrington died as a Retired Captain at Wormstall, Newbury, Berkshire, on 15 September 1927. Always carefully wrapped and shipped in cardboard boxes to protect your purchase. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall. …